Wigan Man Jailed For Catalogue Of Sexual Offences

    A Wigan man has been jailed for a catalogue of violent sexual offences including seven counts of rape.

    Paul Hitchen, of no fixed address, was sentenced to a total of 29 years at Liverpool Crown Court after being found guilty of 28 offences.

    The 35-year-old was convicted of charges including seven counts of rape, seven sexual assaults, two counts of actual bodily harm and one count of false imprisonment.

    The court heard how the offences spanned from 2002 to 2011 and involved eight victims including girls as young as 13 and 15.

    Hitchen would often befriend them and gain their trust before starting an intimate relationship with them.

    At first everything would seem fine but he would start to become controlling, easily annoyed and would threaten or attack some of the victims.

    The offences came to light in 2014 when one of the victims had the courage to come forward to police.

    As part of his conviction he will also have to sign the sex offenders register for life.

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